Americans tend to agree on the importance of roads, bridges, ports, and pipes. Agreement on how to fund and get these projects going is less common. With November 5th nearing, many are wondering how infrastructure policy might impact the election. In this blog, we examine types of infrastructure, recent infrastructure policies, and each candidate’s record.

What is Infrastructure Policy?

Infrastructure policy is how governments manage society’s foundational structures – things like roads, bridges, water and electric utilities, telephone lines, and internet cables.

In the United States, most funding for infrastructure projects comes from public investments by state and local governments. However, the proportion of federal spending began to increase in 2020. The federal government plays a role in infrastructure through Congress, which has the power to regulate interstate commerce and support it with legislation. Most of its funding goes to highway transportation, though spending on rail, mass transit, and water has increased in recent years.

Reliable and resilient infrastructure is important for economic growth. Both businesses and households typically need access to electricity, water, and waste management. They rely on the movement of goods and people across roads, railroads, waterways, and air, along with the flow of information across telephone and internet cables. Infrastructure projects create jobs for workers who build and maintain them. They also raise demand for the materials needed to construct them. Thoughtful infrastructure policy can have a big impact on a local, statewide, and national scale.

Key Topics in Infrastructure Policy

Infrastructure policy can touch a variety of fields and industries.

Transportation

When people think of infrastructure, they often think of highways, bridges, and tunnels – the structures that enable transportation. Funding is needed not only to construct or replace this infrastructure but also to maintain it.

Power and Energy

Transmission lines bring electricity from power generation plants to communities across the country. The United States power grid is made up of several different regional grids with limited interconnection. In some areas, power plants struggle to keep up with the demand for electricity when it surges. In others, severe weather can damage equipment and interfere with power transmission on a large scale. Heat waves and fires have caused rolling blackouts in California in 2020, while an ice storm in Texas took out power for millions of people in 2021.

Improvements to the grid can help it withstand extreme weather and adapt to surges in demand. This is especially important as electric vehicles grow in popularity. Maintenance is also critical to help keep energy infrastructure from falling into disrepair. In the meantime, encouraging energy efficiency can help bring demand down and reduce impacts on the environment.

Due to growing concerns about fossil fuels’ impact on climate change, many advocate for cleaner alternatives such as solar, wind, hydro, and nuclear power. 

Telecommunications

Telecommunications infrastructure allows us to talk, work, learn, shop, and receive services across long distances. A hot topic in telecommunications infrastructure is high-speed broadband Internet access. Low-income and rural communities tend to have lower access to broadband Internet than others. This “digital divide” can lead to unequal access to schooling, job opportunities, healthcare, and more. Encouraging the expansion of infrastructure to less populated areas, along with making Internet access more affordable, helps to close this divide.

Water and Waste Management

Infrastructure like underground pipes and water treatment systems ensure that communities have access to clean water. Landfills, recycling centers, and wastewater treatment plants help with the sanitary management of waste.

Water infrastructure is a more popular topic of public discussion than waste management. Government-funded projects can include updating water treatment facilities, replacing toxic lead pipes with modern ones, and improving water storage and drought resilience.

President Biden’s Infrastructure Accomplishments

In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) into law. The $1.2 trillion legislation included $550 billion in new spending.

Much of the funding went to transportation, including $100 billion for roads, bridges, and other major projects. The IIJA also made investments in freight and passenger rail, which Biden enthusiastically champions. The broad legislation also invested in:

• Public transit
• Airports
• Port infrastructure
• Electric vehicles
• Low-emission buses and ferries
• Cycling and pedestrian infrastructure
• Broadband internet infrastructure
• Power infrastructure
• Clean drinking water
• Resilience and water storage
• Pollution removal from water and soil

Through August 2024, about $480 billion in federal funding has been announced for more than 60,000 projects. Since the law’s passage in 2022, states with lower-rated infrastructure have received more funding than those with highly-rated infrastructure.

Biden also signed the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022, which passed along party lines. It authorized loans to upgrade or repurpose energy infrastructure, funding for clean energy projects, tax credits for buying electric vehicles, tax credits for producing clean energy products and components, and more.

Harris vs. Trump on Infrastructure Policy

Both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump have stressed the importance of infrastructure. They’ve both proposed plans for increased infrastructure spending. But their approaches differ.

While in office, Trump, a Republican, signed the bipartisan America’s Water Infrastructure Act into law in 2018. It authorized funding for a variety of water infrastructure improvements on navigable waterways, dams, reservoirs, public drinking water systems, and more. It contained the most substantial changes to the Safe Drinking Water Act since 1996.

Trump also proposed a plan with $1.5 trillion in new spending on infrastructure. Just $200 billion of that would have been new federal spending. The rest would’ve come from private investment and state and local governments. While there was some bipartisan support for the plan, Congress could not agree on how it would be funded. Talks ended after Trump asked Congress to support his trade deal before working on the infrastructure bill.

Trump has said he wants to ramp up domestic fossil fuel production and delivery to make the United States more energy-independent. This includes the construction of more pipelines and the removal of some regulations Trump sees as overly restrictive. He has also called for quicker approval and construction of nuclear power plants.

Harris, a Democrat, likely has similar infrastructure priorities to President Biden. As Vice President, she has promoted the administration’s progress in implementing the IIJA. She supports efforts to incentivize clean energy projects and advocates for electric vehicles. During her 2020 presidential campaign, Harris opposed hydraulic fracturing (also called “fracking”) for oil and gas but recently said she would not ban fracking as president.

Infrastructure Policy and the 2024 Election

Infrastructure spending is popular among Americans. There is broad support for improvements to roads, bridges, ports, and water pipes. Democrats were far more likely than Republicans to support funding in the IJJA for broadband Internet, public transit, electric vehicle charging stations, and rail service.

How will infrastructure policy impact the 2024 elections? The topic will be most important to voters who are impacted by infrastructure needs the most — including millions of Americans who have experienced blackouts, water quality problems, failing transportation infrastructure, and limited Internet access. About 30% of Americans say infrastructure is a “very big problem” in the country today. Their votes may depend on who they believe will solve it.

Get Started With Plural

Top public policy teams trust Plural with their legislative tracking needs. With Plural, you’ll:

• Access superior public policy data 
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

More Public Policy Resources

Key Benefits of AI for Lobbying & Advocacy

Want to be able to explain the benefits of artificial intelligence for lobbying and advocacy? Everyone is talking about AI. And we get it, it’s not simple to understand. But as an AI-powered organization, Plural is here to help you get the most out of advancements in AI to make your job as a policy […]

READ MORE →

State-Specific Resources

2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar

Staying on top of key deadlines is manageable in one state, but if you’re tracking bills across multiple states, or nationwide, it quickly becomes overwhelming. That’s why we created the 2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar. Stay ahead of important dates and download our calendar today. Get started with Plural. Plural helps top public policy teams get […]

READ MORE →

State-Specific Resources

End of Session Report: Florida 2024 Legislative Session

The 2024 Florida legislative session saw significant activity in the realm of insurance and financial services, reflecting key themes of consumer protection, market stability, and regulatory modernization.

READ MORE →

The post How is Infrastructure Policy Impacting the 2024 Election? appeared first on Plural Policy.

President Joe Biden has authorized unprecedented federal funds and enacted a flurry of rules to fight climate change. Vice President Kamala Harris, the new Democratic nominee, is committed to climate change as a key issue and hopes to continue Biden’s momentum on the issue. Meanwhile, if elected, former President Donald Trump aims to undo as much of it as he can. Trump has promised to get rid of what he sees as wasteful spending and burdensome regulations.

For many American voters, climate is a key issue that brings them out to the polls. When it comes to climate and 2024 elections much could depend on the turnout of these voters. What will they be considering? In this blog, we share a rundown of the current state of the climate crisis, as well as recent major climate actions in the United States. Finally, we share how this topic might affect November’s presidential election.

The Current Climate Crisis

The Earth is facing a climate crisis that not only threatens its future but is causing impacts right now.

Global warming is caused by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide that trap the sun’s heat close to the Earth’s surface and warm it. This is a natural process, but the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere has increased dramatically in the past century. Increased greenhouse gases within our atmosphere have caused long-term global warming.

Scientific consensus is that human activity is the main cause of this accelerated warming. We burn fossil fuels, like coal and gasoline, which increases the amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Plants can remove carbon dioxide from the air, but deforestation has reduced the number of trees.

Impacts of Climate Change

The effects of climate change include more than warmer temperatures. Scientists have noted an increase in extreme weather events, like severe storms, droughts, flooding, wildfires, and heat waves, that is likely to continue. Small but significant changes in air temperature, sea and ocean temperatures, and other changes in weather patterns have contributed to this trend.

Changes in climate also threaten agriculture and food production. Some regions will no longer be able to grow certain crops, and invasive or nuisance species may thrive in areas that once couldn’t sustain them.

Finally, the planet’s oceans are not only warming, they are absorbing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This process acidifies the water and endangers marine life. Further, melting ice sheets and glaciers are endangering Arctic ecosystems. They are also causing global sea levels to rise, which will impact coastal communities and infrastructure.

The Paris Agreement

It is possible to avoid the worst of these impacts with swift action. In 2015, representatives from nearly every country in the world met in Paris to negotiate a climate change treaty. The resulting “Paris Agreement” aims to limit global temperature rise to 2° C/3.6° F above pre-industrial levels. Its ideal goal is to keep global warming under 1.5° C/2.7° F, a “tipping point” that scientists say would cause irreversible impacts. Countries around the world must dramatically lower emissions by 2030 to reach either benchmark.

Recent Actions on Climate Change

The Biden administration has taken many legislative and executive actions to tackle climate change in the past four years. President Biden rejoined the Paris Agreement in 2021 after former President Donald Trump withdrew in 2017.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, passed in 2021, was the first major climate legislation passed during the Biden administration. A bipartisan deal, it included $105 billion for public transit, along with funding for electric vehicles, charging stations, cyclist and pedestrian infrastructure, and renewable energy.

The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, is the largest single piece of U.S. legislation addressing climate change to date. It included about $370 billion in projected spending on climate change and energy security. Experts estimate that the Inflation Reduction Act will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43-48% from 2005 levels by 2035. While a significant, this reduction doesn’t meet America’s Paris Agreement pledge of a 50-52% reduction by 2030.

President Biden also has finalized a large collection of new environmental rules and regulations, led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). One of the most impactful rules will require coal plants and new natural gas power plants to cut or capture 90% of their greenhouse gas emissions by 2032.

In spite of these actions, President Biden hasn’t been as firm on fossil fuel reduction as some climate activists want. In 2023, in exchange for a debt ceiling deal, he approved the Mountain Valley Pipeline in Virginia, a project that advocacy groups have criticized for its environmental impact. 

Notable State Actions

Individual states are busy taking action on climate change as well. Most have used federal climate funding to create climate action plans submitted to the EPA. This funding allows states to access grants for emissions reduction, clean energy, and other climate projects outlined in their plans.

California set groundbreaking vehicle emissions standards with its Advanced Clean Cars II Act, which requires all vehicle sales to be zero-emissions by 2035. A total of 13 states have adopted these standards, but some made changes. Colorado, New Mexico, and Delaware set a different goal of 82% zero-emission car sales by 2032.

In May of 2024, Vermont became the first state to pass a Climate Superfund Bill. The new law requires fossil fuel companies to pay a share of costs associated with climate change. New York followed quickly with its own Climate Change Superfund Act in June. Lawmakers in California, Maryland, and Massachusetts have introduced similar bills.

Will Climate Change Be a Key Issue in the 2024 Elections?

When it comes to climate and 2024 elections, voters may not weigh this issue as high as others. Most Americans are concerned about climate change, yet they tend to prioritize other issues like the economy or immigration. Those who feel strongest about climate change tend to support government action to address it. This means turnout among pro-climate voters could be key.

Most Americans view climate change as a major threat, but only 37% say it should be a “top priority” for the President and Congress. These views differ significantly based on party affiliation. Democrats are far more likely to be concerned about climate change and support climate action than Republicans.

The environment is unlikely to be a top issue of the 2024 presidential election, overshadowed by others seen as more urgent or immediately relevant to voters. It could tip the scales in a close race, though. It also could motivate pro-climate-action voters. A recent poll found virtually no respondents who said climate change was very important to them and would also oppose action. If those who care the most about climate turn out to vote, they are more likely to favor Democratic incumbent President Biden and his plans for the environment.

But even if the climate does not change the course of the presidential election, its outcome may have a large impact on the climate.

Former President Trump has called climate change a “hoax” and tends to dismiss the issue. If re-elected, he promises to expand fossil fuel production, remove Biden’s environmental regulations, and pull out of the Paris Agreement once again. He also hopes to reduce energy prices and support domestic energy sources, including both fossil fuels and low-emission nuclear power. The fossil fuel industry is still a large part of the U.S. economy. Voters who rely on it for employment will be concerned about any proposals that could threaten their jobs.

Get Started With Plural

As Election Day nears, climate and other key policy issues will be the subject of debate and consideration among many voters. At Plural, we’re committed to keeping both professional policy teams and everyday constituents informed and engaged. With Plural, you’ll:

• Access superior public policy data 
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

Interested in getting started? Create a free account or book a demo today!

More Public Policy Resources

How Vote Mama Lobby Empowers Moms By Using Plural for Tracking Policy

Here’s Why Leadership Wants Your GR, Legal & Compliance Teams to Use AI

What I Learned from Working at a Startup Company as a College Student

The post The Climate and 2024 Elections: How is the Environment Impacting Elections? appeared first on Plural Policy.

On the federal level, tax credits for the production and sale of hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) have been proposed and rolled out in limited formats since the Obama administration. However, rapid growth in EV adoption wasn’t realized until the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which made consumer tax credits far easier to access.

For some, this route from smaller rollouts to larger-scale implementations is a sign of careful policymaking. Many climate activists disagree. They argue that we can’t wait decades to produce the ambitious policy we need to adapt to and mitigate a looming climate crisis.

Disagreements over climate policy are taking place across the country, including in Congress. Politics has slowed and threatens to halt progress on climate policy in certain legislatures. Examples like EV tax credits indicate that the climate policy of tomorrow is what is being debated and experimented with today. The climate crisis and associated policy battles aren’t going anywhere. In this blog, we take a look at four developing climate policy topics that you should follow to be prepared for what is to come. 

ESG and Climate Reporting

Environmental, social, and governance standards, otherwise known as ESG, are measures used to judge an entity’s impact for investment or regulatory reasons. Progress in this broad policy space has been led by Europe. The European Union (EU) has expanded the ESG requirements that large businesses monitor and report on. In some cases, these requirements improve businesses’ environmental impact, their impact on individuals and communities, and their corporate governance. 

Progress on ESG in the United States has been limited. At the federal level, the Biden administration has proposed a rule that would require publicly traded companies to submit climate reporting. The final rule was delayed amidst industry and partisan backlash and is now on hold due to court challenges.. At the state level, California passed two ESG-related bills in 2023. The new laws require large businesses to report their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risks. In other states, proposed action has stalled. Any efforts have been overshadowed by a widespread, conservative-led campaign against the use of ESG criteria by state agencies, public institutions, and even private businesses.

However, the EU’s requirements mean that many of the largest American companies must comply with certain ESG laws. The EU’s efforts are expected to spur the development of the infrastructure and practices necessary to make ESG compliance easier in the United States. The benefits of ESG compliance will also become more clear. Further, this reporting may drive consumer demand for ESG information. The will of the consumer can sometimes be a more effective threat than the will of the legislator. 

At the grassroots level, conservative backlash to ESG is seemingly more tied to the “culture wars” than to any policy impact. This momentum is likely to wane as compliance becomes more institutionalized. With that being said, corporate opposition to ESG requirements is likely to remain strong as policies develop. The future of ESG in the United States will be determined by a back-and-forth between government and industry. 

Emissions Targets

Since 2020, many state legislatures have enacted emissions reductions targets. This movement represents one of the most successful trends in climate policy thus far. At least sixteen states and Puerto Rico have passed greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Specifics about how these states will reduce emissions to meet their targets are few. However, committing to these goals represents some of the most robust actions many states have taken on the climate crisis.

Some requirements, including those in Colorado and Vermont, have targets beginning in 2025. Many others start in 2030. It will be worth watching how legislators and the public react as the first deadlines approach and pass. In many cases, states are unlikely to meet at least some of their targets. Whether that creates momentum for bolder action or proves the ineffectiveness of these targets remains to be seen. 

Investing in Breakthrough Technologies

The reason for the predicted failures of emissions targets can be traced to one factor. It’s also the reason why emission reduction may not be the most effective policy avenue. Simply put, these measures rely on technology that does not yet exist. New and improved forms of energy production, storage, and utilization are key to any effort to reduce emissions without significantly disrupting how we live our lives.

Hope in the development of new technology that will revolutionize how we respond to climate change is not unfounded. The power of technological progress to transform how we solve problems is proven. We know that, with financial and intellectual investment, development will come.

Some of this innovation and investment will come from the private sector. However, government-sponsored research and development is a crucial component in this puzzle. One opportunity is in carbon capture technology, which refers to the collection, storage, and/or utilization of carbon emissions before they reach the Earth’s atmosphere. Carbon capture technology is already being deployed — the Department of Energy has provided nearly $1.5 billion in funding to over 600 carbon capture research projects.

Technological advancement is crucial in the future fight to reach climate goals. Current research and development is some of the most important work happening today. The government has the resources and the responsibility to drive this innovation. Investment allocation and research outcomes could determine the success of aforementioned emissions goals. Tracking today’s investment decisions may provide insight into tomorrow’s climate solutions.

The Size and Strength of the Regulatory State

Progress on climate policy has been halting. In this context, advocates have pressured federal agencies to take action via rulemaking. Some of the Biden administration’s boldest action on climate change has occurred not via legislation, but rather regulatory channels. Largely led by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this includes actions aiming to:

• Target vehicular emissions
• Strengthen enforcement of the Endangered Species Act
• Make it more challenging to drill for fossil fuels on government land

In Congress, Republicans have signaled their desire to reverse many of these rules should they gain a large enough majority. If elected, Donald Trump has signaled that his administration would reverse the work of the Biden administration.

In recent years, the Supreme Court has also limited the scope of agency action on climate policy. The Court’s 2021 ruling in West Virginia v. EPA is one example of such limitations. The ruling restricted the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, dampening hopes that climate goals could be achieved through regulatory action.

It isn’t getting any easier to pass bold climate action through Congress. Given this, the Biden administration hasn’t given up on using rulemaking to achieve its goals. In fact, federal agencies have been rushing to finalize a rule that would prevent a new administration from easily reversing any prior action via the Congressional Review Act.

The types of climate policy passed over the next few decades will be crucial in our efforts to mitigate the climate crisis. But how that policy is passed will also be important to follow. Those looking to affect change have much to learn about what has and hasn’t worked over the past twenty years. Strategic innovation in policymaking will be necessary to achieve success.

The Future of Climate Policy with Plural

We can’t predict the future. Any assessment of what will happen in the future of climate policy should be taken with a grain of salt. However, we can use history to identify the topics, policies, and strategies to watch out for. Legislative intelligence tools like Plural allow for real-time identification and monitoring of these trends. With Plural, you’ll be on the forefront of what’s to come. This includes:

• Accessing superior public policy data 
• Being the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamlining your day with seamless organization features
• Harnessing the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keeping everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

More Climate Policy Resources

How is Infrastructure Policy Impacting the 2024 Election?

The Climate and 2024 Elections: How is the Environment Impacting Elections?

Climate Policy Topics You Should Follow

The post Climate Policy Topics You Should Follow appeared first on Plural Policy.

Yet, technology can and must be part of our climate solution. This includes technological advancements in energy production, manufacturing, battery storage, and much more. These solutions are necessary to address the effects of climate change and global heating. 

Technology is a critical weapon in our fight against climate change. Around the world, climate policy experts and other leaders are working to ensure technology is responsibly and effectively integrated into climate plans. 

Technological advancement will not save us from the impacts of climate change. We’re already feeling the impacts of increased temperatures, rising sea levels, and intensifying natural disasters. Yet, when responsibly used and combined with nature-based approaches, technology can help us mitigate climate impacts. Technological innovation can help us build a greener, healthier future. 

Integrating Technology Into Climate Policy

We cannot hope to prevent or reverse climate change without significant technological innovation. To slow the pace of global heating, we must change the ways we produce energy, grow food, travel, and more. This is especially true in the United States, where harmful manufacturing processes dominate the economy. In a society reliant on pollutant energy sources, Americans’ carbon footprints are disproportionately high. Improving the sustainability of our society and economy will require technological innovation in nearly every sector. Advancements must reach from energy production to agriculture, construction, and transportation. 

Change on this scale will not happen on its own. Leaders must work proactively to encourage the development and adoption of greener technology. Fortunately, this important work to solve the climate crisis has already begun. Creative policy solutions encourage — or even require — the adoption of key climate technologies.

Reducing Emissions

Improved energy efficiency allows us to reduce emissions without reducing service usage. For example, an energy efficient washer and dryer allows a consumer to reduce their energy use without reducing how often they do laundry, or the amount of clothes they wash. Both the federal and state governments have set energy efficiency standards for appliances and building codes. Manufacturers and builders alike must meet these efficiency targets.

Companies face energy efficiency challenges when making these kinds of technological upgrades. Thus, governments have also established incentive programs that encourage and reward the private sector for taking steps to increase efficiency and reduce emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy maintains a database to track and publicize available incentive programs.

Of course, the easiest and cheapest way to reduce emissions is to use less energy. Individuals can walk or bike rather than drive, run the air conditioning less in the summer, take fewer flights. But, convincing the population to make these lifestyle changes is challenging. Further, placing the onus of reducing emissions on individuals rather than large corporations who pollute the most seems counterintuitive. Given this reality, technological improvements to reduce emissions are critical.

Renewable Energy 

Making the transition to renewable energy is also key. The U.S. has high energy needs, currently mostly met by burning fossil fuels. Switching to clean, renewable energy sources would reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This transition will require massive technological improvements in both renewable power generation and energy storage. 

Renewable energies like solar and wind are already much more affordable than they were in the past. They’re much better quality, too. This is thanks to the work of climate scientists and researchers. Between 2010 and 2020, the cost of solar panels dropped by about 85%. Costs are expected to continue to fall. Improvements in the solar sector are a great example of how technology can improve climate outcomes. Reducing the cost of renewable energy eases the transition to cleaner energy sources. With lower costs, governments and consumers alike are better able to make the shift from fossil fuels to sustainable energy.

Batteries and energy storage is one of the most critical areas of climate technology research. The cleanest renewable energies like solar and wind are inherently intermittent. When it is sunny or windy, these technologies may generate energy in excess of demand. But on cloudy, still days they may not supply enough. With high-energy density battery storage, excess energy can be stored, quite literally, for a rainy day. At present, our battery technology is not capable of storing the energy density we need to run the economy. Improving battery capacity and reducing energy storage costs requires significant research. Without advancement in this sector, the U.S. will struggle to meet emissions goals. 

Electric Vehicles

Twenty-nine percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. come from the transportation sector. Cars and light duty trucks are responsible for 58% of those transportation emissions. Cars contribute massively to America’s carbon emissions problem. Any serious climate plan must include policies to reduce motor vehicle emissions.  

Many climate activists are skeptical of electric vehicles (EVs), and for good reason. Electric cars require batteries full of rare earth minerals. These necessary minerals are mined with dangerous, polluting methods. Further, EVs don’t address the land use problems that accompany a transit system reliant on private vehicles. Public transit, biking, and walking are all more climate friendly than electric cars. 

Still, the U.S. is built around cars. Transitioning to other modes of transportation takes time, and EVs will reduce transportation emissions in the short-term. Increasing their affordability and use will help reduce transportation emissions today. The Biden Administration has set a national target of 50% EV sales share by 2030. To support this goal, the Administration launched the EV Charging Action Plan. The Plan sets forth a roadmap build out a national network of EV chargers. It also included new tax credits for electric vehicle purchases in the Inflation Reduction Act.   

Smart Development

Though less damaging than transportation, the development and buildings sector also contributes to emissions. Commercial and residential buildings make up about 13% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Increasing the efficiency of new and old buildings will improve climate outcomes. 

The U.S. has set aggressive new efficiency standards for utility providers and appliance manufacturers. These standards aim to reduce energy use in residential and commercial buildings, while also reducing utility costs for consumers. The Administration also recently launched the Biden-Harris Action Plan for Building Better School Infrastructure. The Plan invests $500 million in energy efficiency upgrades for public school buildings across the U.S.  

President Biden’s Climate Agenda and Key Climate Policies

President Biden campaigned on fighting climate change through building a greener economy. He has set ambitious climate goals while in office. In particular, the Biden Administration has committed the U.S. to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 50% of 2005 emissions levels by 2030, and to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. To realize these climate goals, the Biden Administration is taking a whole-of-government approach. Climate policies are a key feature of the Administration’s two signature domestic policy achievements: the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. 

Both laws made massive investments in the following areas, among others:

• Low-carbon technologies
• Climate tech research
• Renewable energy deployment
• Legacy pollution mitigation

The Administration has also invested in clean energy manufacturing and EVs. It has also made environmental justice a priority when implementing these new programs. President Biden’s climate agenda attempts to activate every sector of the economy in the fight against climate change. This effort enlists a broad range of federal agencies, state-level programs, and private sector actors to reduce emissions and mitigate the impacts of global heating. 

Technology’s Role in President Biden’s Climate Agenda

President Biden’s climate policies have invested billions in climate technology. Both the IRA and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law launched huge new spending programs for clean power investments, the domestic manufacturing of renewable energy technology, offshore wind installations, and more. 

These bills also created new revenue streams for research and development. The Administration launched the Energy Earthshots Initiative. Housed in the U.S. Department of Energy, the initiative aims to accelerate breakthroughs in clean energy technology. It supports “moonshot-style” big ideas in the world of climate technology, with a focus on:

• Carbon capture and storage
• Clean fuel production
• Grid-scale battery energy storage
• Industrial heat decarbonization projects
• Novel renewable energy sources like hydrogen and floating offshore wind

Many of these technologies are currently underdeveloped or too expensive to be feasible. As such, the Energy Earthshots Initiative seeks to invest in these nascent technologies and support their ongoing development. A new discovery in these sectors could revolutionize the energy future in the US. Such a development would help the country meet ambitious emissions reductions goals. 

Key Aspects of President Biden’s Climate Agenda 

The Biden Administration has also prioritized environmental justice in its climate policies. Historically, low-income and communities of color have both received less federal infrastructure investment than their wealthy, white peers. They’ve also been forced to absorb more of the negative externalities associated with climate change and environmental pollution. This inequality is reflected in the poor public health of many low income and communities of color. The environmental justice movement is working to redress this inequality.

In 2021, Biden launched the Justice40 initiative, which commits the federal government to delivering at least 40% of the benefits from seven overall categories of federal spending to historically disadvantaged communities. 

The Justice40 initiative brings a whole-of-government approach to persistent and systemic environmental inequity. It involves a wide array of agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation. The initiative will transform hundreds of federal programs to ensure funding is equitably distributed and new programs are implemented with real community input. Justice40 covers existing federal programs as well as new programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the IRA.

As climate change continues, disadvantaged communities are most at risk from high temperatures, rising sea levels, and damaging storms. Justice40 will help ensure that the communities most impacted by climate change receive their fair share of climate mitigation investments. 

United States Climate Policy for Sustainable Development

Globally, the United Nations (UN) has taken the lead on climate policy. UN member states are organized around shared goals and commitments for climate action. As one of the largest creators of carbon pollution, the United States’ participation in global climate action is critical. Unfortunately, U.S. climate policy has been inconsistent. Policy often shifts massively as different political parties take power. For example, President Obama’s administration played a key role in the creation of the Paris Climate Agreement. After Obama left office, President Trump formally withdrew the United States from the agreement. President Biden then signed an order recommitting the U.S. to the Paris Agreement on his first day in office. 

It’s difficult to lead on climate policy with changing leadership and inconsistent commitments. America’s indecision has created a leadership vacuum that the UN and other global actors have filled. Academics and activists have also played a key role.

Climate change is a global problem that demands global solutions. Greater consistency in U.S. climate policy would allow us to take a stronger leadership role and use our considerable global influence to support the development and implementation of climate technologies around the world. 

Get Started With Plural for Climate Policy

Plural is the policy intelligence tool of choice for those looking to track climate policy in the United States. With Plural, you’ll:

• Access superior public policy data 
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

Book a consult today!

More Climate Policy Resources

How is Infrastructure Policy Impacting the 2024 Election?

The Climate and 2024 Elections: How is the Environment Impacting Elections?

Climate Policy Topics You Should Follow

The post The Role of Technology in Climate Policy and Sustainable Development  appeared first on Plural Policy.

On Wednesday, April 10th, the U.S. Senate narrowly passed SJ. Res. 61. The bill seeks to block the implementation of a rule by President Biden’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). If the rule is blocked, it will mark another blow to the administration’s attempts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Three Democrats, Joe Manchin, Jon Tester, and Sherrod Brown, and Independent Senator Krysten Sinema voted with Republicans. Ultimately, the resolution passed 53-47. This move marks another rebuke against the President’s executive authority. This trend has become a worrying theme for President Biden in his efforts to shape policy via rulemaking. In this blog, we discuss what this rule would do, how the Senate is seeking to nullify it, and what comes next. 

What Is the National Performance Management Measures Rule?

In December 2023 the FHWA released its final National Performance Management Measures Rule. The rule requires state departments of transportation to set targets to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions. Departments must also report on their progress to those targets over time. Notably, the rule did not dictate what those targets must be, only that they must be aimed at reducing emissions.

Republicans characterized the rule as an executive overreach. As a result, many states filed lawsuits asking for the rule to be thrown out. Opponents were rewarded in late March when a Texas judge struck down the rule, blocking it from going into effect at least temporarily. That ruling is subject to an appeal that, if successful, could allow the rule to come into force. 

What Did the Senate Do To Oppose the National Performance Management Measures Rule?

Despite the March ruling against the FWHA rule, opponents in the Senate hoped to ensure it was blocked, even if the government were to win an appeal. Their vehicle for this was SJ. Res. 61, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution. The CRA gives Congress the ability to overturn recently issued rules. While most legislation requires 60 votes to pass the Senate, joint resolutions require only a simple majority. Because of this, joint resolutions are a useful tool for a party with a slim majority. 

This advantage of the CRA proved valuable in this circumstance. Republicans were able to win the support of just a few Senators outside of their party to pass the resolution. The resolution will now head to the House, where the Republican majority will likely support its passage. Unsurprisingly, many CRA resolutions that do pass are vetoed by the President. Biden appears prepared to do so in this circumstance. Opponents likely don’t have the numbers to override a veto, so it may be that SJ. Res. 61 stands little chance of becoming law. 

But this legislative activity still matters. It contributes to a growing trend — Republicans are increasingly using the CRA to oppose President Biden’s actions. In some cases, they’re also gaining Democratic support. The President is increasingly reliant on administrative rulemaking to fulfill bold policy promises that are blocked in Congress. Growing opposition has met this trend, both from Republicans and from some in the President’s party.

Both chambers of Congress have passed ten CRA resolutions opposing rules issued by President Biden. However, none have survived the President’s veto pen.

Where Do We Go From Here?

We will see in the coming weeks whether the House follows the Senate’s lead in passing SJ. Res. 61 and whether opponents can muster enough votes to override the President’s veto. The President’s veto will likely stand if the House passes the resolution. You can, of course, follow this activity with timely updates from Plural. 

With SJ. Res. 61 unlikely to pass into law, the courts will decide the rule’s future. As of now, the rule has been nullified by the judge’s recent ruling. Whether the administration appeals, and whether that appeal is successful, will determine the responsibility of states to set greenhouse gas emissions reductions targets.

As for the growing use of the CRA, this latest interaction with the Congressional check on executive power offers key reminders. It should serve as a reminder of the vulnerability of executive action should the President lose his bid for a second term this fall. If a Republican, presumably former President Trump, were to win in November, and Republicans held majorities in both chambers of Congress, they would be able to use the CRA to overturn many recent actions taken by President Biden. Without the power of the veto pen, President Biden wouldn’t be able to stop them.

Get Started With Plural

Plural is the policy and legislator intelligence tool of choice for effective government relations teams. With Plural, you’ll:

• Access superior public policy data 
• Be the first to know about new bills and changes in bill status
• Streamline your day with seamless organization features
• Harness the power of time-saving AI tools to gain insights into individual bills and the entire legislative landscape
• Keep everyone on the same page with internal collaboration and external reporting all in one place

Create a free account or book a demo today!

More Resources for Public Policy Teams

2024 118th Congress Report

Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

Upcoming Changes to Party Leadership in Congress

The post The US Senate Just Voted to Overturn Another Biden Administration Rule appeared first on Plural Policy.

“Climate tech” is a broad term for any technology that can address climate change. It may aim to lower greenhouse gas emissions, remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, or lessen the impacts of climate change. From “superhot rock” energy to 3D-printed meat, new technologies are developed all the time that could fight climate change.

Governments around the world have been increasing their support and funding for climate tech. In 2022, the United States passed its largest single climate investment to date — the Inflation Reduction Act. This is likely to be a common policy topic as climate urgency grows.

The Climate Crisis and the Urgency for Climate Tech Solutions

“Greenhouse gases,” such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide, trap the sun’s heat and warm the Earth. When these gases increase in the atmosphere, the planet gets warmer over time. This long-term shifting of temperatures is known as climate change. The Earth’s climate warms and cools naturally, but the past century has brought sudden and rapid global warming.

The scientific consensus is that this climate crisis is primarily caused by human activity in the industrial age. Burning fossil fuels like coal and gasoline adds greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Deforestation has destroyed many trees, which naturally remove carbon dioxide from the air.

Impacts of climate change include:

• An increase in extreme weather, like severe storms, droughts, flooding, and heat waves
• Rising sea levels due to melting ice sheets and glaciers
• Warming and acidification of oceans
• Disruption of ecosystems, endangering species
• Struggles with agriculture and food production

The United States and most other countries are parties to the Paris Agreement of 2016. The international agreement’s goal is to make sure global average temperatures don’t rise more than 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) above pre-industrial levels. Ideally, warming would be limited to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F). This is a “tipping point” that scientists estimate would cause impacts that cannot be reversed.

To reach either of these goals, the world must work to lower greenhouse gas emissions drastically by 2030. This will be difficult. Action must be quick and impactful. Fortunately, many climate tech solutions have emerged to take on this urgent problem.

Examples of Climate Tech Solutions

Climate tech solutions are being developed in many industries.

Most of the world relies on burning fossil fuels as its largest energy source. Renewable and low-carbon energy sources offer an alternative that can lower emissions. These include hydroelectric, solar, and wind power. New advances in geothermal power could tap into superhot rock energy from deep under the Earth’s surface. In nuclear power, researchers are working on fusion technology that would create less radioactive waste than fission.

Transportation is a fast-growing source of carbon emissions globally. Electric vehicles and alternative fuels can help lower their environmental impact. “Green hydrogen,” or hydrogen produced using electricity from renewable sources, is a new potential fuel for the transportation industry. It also could replace “grey hydrogen” created with fossil fuels, which is used in several industrial processes.

Agriculture and food production are another large source of greenhouse gas emissions. Vertical farming lessens land use and would lower emissions if powered by renewable energy. Alternative protein sources can replace some animal products, which have a large carbon footprint. These include plant-based proteins and new technologies like lab-grown meat. Some companies are using these proteins to 3D print cuts of alternative meat that look and feel like the real thing.

Innovative technologies can remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. Carbon capture systems grab carbon dioxide at the point of release. New direct air capture methods can remove it from anywhere.

Even artificial intelligence can help fight climate change. One AI solution optimizes heating and cooling systems so that homes and businesses use less energy. Another new project uses AI to help farmers figure out exactly how much water, fertilizer, and pesticide they need to use. AI also can help make supply chains more efficient, track and trace emissions, and predict climate change impacts.

Government Adoption

Governments play an important role in addressing climate change. Regulation can limit greenhouse gas emissions or the use of materials with a high carbon cost. This kind of lawmaking is not their only tool, though. Governments also can help climate tech move forward.

First, the public sector can direct funding toward vital research areas. It also can offer tax credits to those who develop and build climate tech solutions, helping the private sector invest in these fields.

At some point, private companies may run out of money to test new climate technologies in the field or get them to market. Small startups often get early venture capital funds that dry up before they can grow. Governments can bridge this funding gap by investing in climate tech at the early-to-middle stages when it is needed most. They also can adopt climate tech themselves or give incentives for customers to buy it. This creates demand that can lead to wider adoption of a technology.

The Role of Public-Private Partnerships in Climate Tech

In public-private partnerships, governments work on projects closely with the private sector. A private company may provide the technology and financing needed for a public project. Then the government pays it back through taxes and fees. Montgomery County in Maryland has partnered with a private company on an electric bus system. Cities in other states and countries, like Canada and Chile, also have entered partnerships for electric busing.

Another example of a partnership is a profit-sharing agreement. In this type of agreement, governments and businesses work together to develop a technology and sell it.

Governments and private investors also can partner to fund climate projects. The Netherlands has set up a public-private partnership called the Dutch Fund for Climate and Development. This fund invests in projects to both fight and adapt to climate change in developing countries.

The Inflation Reduction Act and Climate Tech

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the largest U.S. government legislation to date addressing climate change. Passed in August 2022, it will invest an estimated $369 billion into energy security and climate change.

The bulk of this funding takes the form of tax credits, which aim to motivate private investment in climate tech. This includes tax incentives for companies that develop technologies, factories that make them, and customers that use them. Individuals can get tax credits for buying electric vehicles, heat pumps, solar panels, home batteries, and more. Power plants can get incentives for installing carbon capture and storage systems. The IRA also offers grant funding, including funds for state and local governments to spend on climate projects.

It includes investments in many different areas, such as:

• Direct air capture
• Renewable energy
• Nuclear power
• Sustainable fuel for aviation
• Green hydrogen
• Climate-smart agriculture
• Coastal habitat protection
• Carbon reduction efforts in disadvantaged communities

Since the IRA became law, purchases of electric vehicles and solar panels have grown. More investment is going into the manufacturing of these products within the United States. Larger climate tech projects have been slower to start, though. The full impact of the IRA won’t be known until many years into the future.

Get Started With Plural

Plural is the legislative tracking tool of choice for policy teams who monitor climate tech legislation. Interested in getting started? Create a free account or book a demo today!

More Resources for Public Policy Teams

Key Benefits of AI for Lobbying & Advocacy

Want to be able to explain the benefits of artificial intelligence for lobbying and advocacy? Everyone is talking about AI. And we get it, it’s not simple to understand. But as an AI-powered organization, Plural is here to help you get the most out of advancements in AI to make your job as a policy […]

READ MORE →

State-Specific Resources

2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar

Staying on top of key deadlines is manageable in one state, but if you’re tracking bills across multiple states, or nationwide, it quickly becomes overwhelming. That’s why we created the 2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar. Stay ahead of important dates and download our calendar today. Get started with Plural. Plural helps top public policy teams get […]

READ MORE →

State-Specific Resources

End of Session Report: Florida 2024 Legislative Session

The 2024 Florida legislative session saw significant activity in the realm of insurance and financial services, reflecting key themes of consumer protection, market stability, and regulatory modernization.

READ MORE →

The post What Is Climate Tech? appeared first on Plural Policy.

Key Topics in the 2024 State of the Union Address

President Biden discussed several key topics central to his own and the Democratic party’s platform. These included: 

The State of Democracy 

The State of the Union address started out with a conversation on the current state of Democracy. President Biden was inaugurated immediately following the capital insurrection on January 6, 2021. Since then, he has made many significant speeches on the state of democracy in the United States. During the State of the Union, President Biden spoke directly to the current state of affairs. With regard to the upcoming 2024 election, President Biden declared that the U.S. is facing “the biggest threat to democracy since the Civil War.”

Reproductive Justice

President Biden often discusses his staunch pro-choice beliefs. This was no different throughout the State of the Union. President Biden called out his presidential predecessor for his role in Roe v. Wade being overturned. He also slammed the Republican Party’s interest in voting for a federal ban on abortion access, discussing the dangers of such a proposal. In response, President Biden called for increased federal protections for reproductive healthcare. He promised the American people that, if elected, he would protect the right to abortion and ensure abortion medications are available via the U.S. Postal Service.

Job Creation and the Inflation Reduction Act

President Biden entered office in the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Administration’s successes in COVID-19 response and recovery were a key aspect of the State of the Union address. He boasted about recovery efforts and how the country has emerged from quarantine with full access to COVID-19 vaccines.

The President also discussed increased employment rates. Over the past four years, the U.S. has seen the highest rates of job creation in the country’s history. With fifteen million jobs created in just three years, President Biden has seen the highest job creation rate of any U.S. president.

Job growth is due in large part to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a key success of Biden’s term as president. The IRA flooded state governments and the federal government with economic investments, clean energy programs, and job creation projects.

Support for Unions

Throughout his political career, President Biden has been a major supporter of Unions. In the State of the Union address, he boasted to the crowd that he was the first U.S. President to cross a picket line in support of a workers’ union. President Biden also spoke to the experiences of the middle class, including the difficulties they have faced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The middle class has endured challenges from a reduction in policies protecting them. They’ve also had fewer opportunities to unionize. President Biden concluded this portion of his address by exclaiming: “the middle class built this country, and unions built the middle class.”

The Economy

President Biden discussed the state of the economy in the United States. Since taking office, the President has signed off on and implemented policies aiming to reduce inflation across the country. He’s also supported efforts to increase job availability. President Biden stated: “wages are on the up, and inflation is on the down.”

Healthcare and New Policy Proposals

President Biden touted his ability to secure a reduction in insulin prices to no more than $35 per month for seniors on Medicare. As President, Biden has secured the passage of this measure through Congress. He has also advocated for the application of this policy throughout the United States.

On the topic of healthcare, President Biden also encouraged Congress to work with him to pass a bill allowing Medicare to negotiate prices on more than 500 essential medications. These policy proposals and passages are key goals for the Administration, as they hope to build on the legacy of Obamacare.

Housing and New Policy Proposals

The President discussed the ongoing housing crisis faced by renters, owners, and buyers across the country. He proposed a policy that would give homeowners $400 per month over the next two years to apply towards their mortgages. For renters, President Biden pointed to provisions within the IRA to build affordable housing in neighborhoods in need. In laying the groundwork for these proposals, President Biden is also signaling to Americans what another term as President would look like.

The State of Education

President Biden is a staunch supporter of public education. His wife, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, is a former public school educator and continues to advocate for education. In the State of the Union address, President Biden focused on many topics related to education.

The President signaled his support for early childhood education and universal access to preschool. He stating that students who finish preschool are more likely to finish high school and achieve a two to four year degree, no matter their background.

President Biden also mentioned his ongoing effort to decrease student loan debt, and already providing essential workers in the U.S. such as firefighters, teachers, and medics with student loan debt decreases. Last summer, the Supreme Court thwarted his efforts to cancel a significant portion of the student loan debt that plagues many Americans.

Next, President Biden informed viewers about measures to increase access to education for marginalized communities. The Administration has increased Pell Grants for low-income students. The President also announced investments in Historically Black Colleges and Hispanic Serving Institutions. 

Finally, President Biden called for increased support for public school teachers. He unequivocally announced: “Public school teachers need a raise.”

A Re-Framing of the State of Immigration 

President Biden reframed the issue of immigration from how Republicans typically discuss it. Republicans often frame immigration as a crisis of too many individuals crossing the border, seeking refugee status, asylum, or formal green cards. President Biden framed immigration as an issue of an underfunded legal and social immigration system within the United States.

The President outlined a proposal to hire hundreds more immigration case workers, lawyers, and judges. With increased staffing, the Administration hopes that court cases can go from a six-month wait to just six weeks.

The response to this proposal highlighted partisan divides on the issue of immigration. It was met with heckling from Republicans and cheers from Democrats. As such, it’s likely that this will be a highly contested policy.

Foreign Affairs

In the last portion of the Address, President Biden spoke about the ongoing conflicts internationally. Addressing his continued support for Ukraine and speaking to the aggression occurring in Gaza. Israel’s response to attacks by Hamas in October of 2023 has dominated public debate in the United States. The President began his speech by stating that Israel has the right to “go after” Hamas. He also voiced support for the return of hostages within Gaza.

Afterwards, President Biden declared that Israel has the responsibility to protect innocent civilians within Gaza. These statements come after more than one hundred days of ongoing conflict within Gaza. More than 35,000 men, women, and children have been killed, and thousands more have been injured.

President Biden urged Israel to stop blocking humanitarian assistance from entering Gaza. He also shared that the U.S. plans to create a temporary dock on the coast of Gaza to aid in the distribution of humanitarian aid. The President concluded his discussion of the topic by encouraging a six-week ceasefire in Gaza and exclaiming the necessity of a two-state solution.

The President’s remarks on Israel and Gaza were met with a variety of reactions, both from viewers at home and legislators in the crowd. The conflict between Israel and Palestinians is a hotly contested topic within the United States. Many Americans believe Israel is defending itself against Hamas. Many others view what is happening in Gaza as a genocide, especially following the International Court of Justice’s interim decision. A few Democratic legislators in the crowd held signs asking the President to call for a lasting ceasefire.

Get Started With Plural

Plural is the legislative tracking tool of choice for policy teams looking to track key public policy topics on both the state and federal levels. Interested in getting started? Create a free account or book a demo today!

More Public Policy Resources

2024 118th Congress Report

Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

Upcoming Changes to Party Leadership in Congress

The post The State of the Union 2024: Context and Key Topics appeared first on Plural Policy.

The last few years have taught everyone from business owners to climate advocates to regulators to care about ESG. Increasingly, those following ESG policy in the U.S. have stopped watching what Europe is doing and begun assessing the impacts of policies and proposals at home. The landscape of ESG policy in the U.S. is complex and ever-evolving. It can be challenging to follow across fifty state legislatures, each different in their partisanship and ideology.

Despite all the action on ESG, 2023 left many questions about the future of ESG policy in the United States. To get a better understanding of what might be up next for ESG policymaking, we reviewed what happened in 2023. In this blog, we identify trends that have begun to emerge so far in 2024.

What is ESG?

ESG criteria are a set of standards that have application in two primary contexts. Firstly, ESG investing involves the consideration of ethical and societal impacts while making investment decisiosn. This approach is aimed at encouraging more sustainable business models. ESG investing has gained significant traction over decades. In particular, but surged in popularity during the 2000s as a response to heightened consumer demand for corporate responsibility.

ESG can also refer to government-imposed sustainability and responsibility reporting standards. In this context, regulatory bodies mandate that corporations adhere to reporting requirements on their environmental, social, and governance practices. In rarer cases, ESG reporting standards require corporations to meet predefined benchmarks. Regardless, assessment criteria may encompass factors such as carbon emissions, supply chain ethics, and risk management compliance.

Europe has emerged as a frontrunner in ESG regulation. The European Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is considered by many to be a model for ESG regulation. Conversely, the U.S. has seen a burgeoning trend of anti-ESG regulation. In 2023, anti-ESG regulation was released in thirty-seven states. Absent federal intervention, the landscape of ESG law in the U.S. appears poised to become increasingly complex. This will certainly pose challenges and legal risks for companies seeking to navigate regulatory frameworks.

What Happened With ESG Trends in 2023?

Before 2023, regulatory oversight on ESG investing in the U.S. was minimal. Last year, we saw a notable increase in legislative activity on ESG investing. Evident at both the state and federal levels, this uptick was influenced by many factors. Recent initiatives from the Biden administration focus on ESG. On the other hand, the Republican party has positioned ESG as part of a broader agenda in the “culture wars.”

In 2023, more than two-thirds of U.S. state legislatures deliberated anti-ESG legislation. As a result, fourteen states enacted laws restricting the incorporation of ESG factors in public investments and procurements. At the same time, pro-ESG legislation struggled to gain traction outside of California. In the fall of 2023, Governor Newsom signed two bills requiring large businesses to report their greenhouse gas emissions and climate-related financial risk. 

There were also plenty of developments in ESG policy outside of the U.S. in 2023. The European Union made progress on finalizing and implementing the CSRD. The CSRD is an expanded and revised version of the existing EU sustainability reporting criteria – the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD). Beginning with the largest public companies, CSRD requirements will begin to take effect this year. 

The EU also advanced the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CS3D) which will be enacted as early as 2024. The CS3D goes further than the NFRD and CSRD in holding companies accountable. It requires that companies take an active approach in preventing and mitigating human rights and environmental harms resulting from their business practices. CS3D requirements will not take effect until at least 2027. Yet, its development and passage represent a new step in ESG policymaking. 

Finally, the African Union began studying ESG in 2023. Africa-based ESG policies will likely begin to develop across the latter part of this decade. 

Key ESG Trends in 2024

Many of the ESG policies developed in 2023 will go into effect, at least partially, in 2024. Further, many of the proposals that didn’t receive passage last year will be reintroduced and reconsidered. Below we broke down a few ways in which we expect ESG policy to show up in 2024. 

“Anti-ESG” States Double Down on Successes in 2023

Across the country in 2023, we saw two types of anti-ESG policies have significant success. The first includes proposals to limit the factors that public pension fund managers may consider in their investment decisions. New Hampshire’s HB 457, which became law in July, is an example of such an effort. The second area includes proposals to prohibit state government agencies from entering into contracts with organizations that use their own ESG criteria to determine the businesses they work with. Alabama enacted a law of this kind, SB 261, in June. 

Both policy areas focus on public money and state decision-making relative to ESG. Some anti-ESG proposals have waded into the private sector, like Texas’s SB 833, which regulates insurance providers. However, the majority of successful bills were aimed at ESG’s role in the public sector. 

We at Plural expect this trend to continue in 2024. States that have yet to pass anti-ESG legislation but which have the partisan makeup to do so may find success. Additionally, states that have already passed this type of legislation may double down in 2024. Already, Alabama’s HB 61 would, if enacted, expand last year’s ESG ban to more public contract processes. 

ESG Moves From Policymaking to Practice

As mentioned above, we have seen a flurry of development in ESG policy across the world. As we move forward, more and more of these policies will go from the realm of the political to the practical. This year represents the first in which some companies will need to follow the EU’s CSRD protocols. Additionally, the 2023 release of voluntary standards by the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) may encourage more companies to begin to report on sustainability. 

As these policies take effect, ESG consideration and reporting will continue to become a fact of life for large corporations. This new normal does not minimize the importance or the difficulty of complying with these complex regulations. 2024 will be our best look at how companies handle these new requirements.

More policy in effect means, of course, more data for the public to ingest. After all, ESG reporting is meant to encourage companies towards better, more transparent business practices. Good reporting and public education will be necessary for this positive feedback cycle to work as intended.

The SEC is the Primary ESG Policymaker in the U.S.

Significant Congressional action on ESG is unlikely in 2024, especially as we near Election Day. Instead, those monitoring federal ESG policy will watch the SEC as it moves towards finalizing sustainability reporting rules. The SEC first proposed a rule requiring expansive climate reporting by publicly listed companies in 2022. The proposal has been met with significant pushback from the large corporations it seeks to regulate. If adopted, the proposal would represent a significant shift in ESG policy in the United States.

The SEC has delayed the release of its final rule on this proposal several times. This is due, at least in part, to the opposition it has received. Yet, all signs point to a final decision being made by the SEC in 2024. Any new policy will take years to go into effect. They will likely be challenged in court before doing so. Still, the SEC’s forthcoming decision on ESG is perhaps the most significant moment in U.S. ESG policy seen thus far. 

ESG and the 2024 Elections

Policy topics as wonky as ESG rarely become a headline issue in U.S. elections. It’s unlikely that candidates’ positions on ESG will be the subject of commercials or debates. Yet, there are subtle ways in which the debate over ESG will play out in election discourse.

Conservatives have sought to tie ESG regulations to a broader agenda they claim is hurting the economy for social gains. For example, former Presidential candidate and current Florida Governor Ron DeSantis included on his campaign website that he would not “tolerate woke corporations using ESG as an end-run around our constitutional system to impose heavy-handed, left-wing edicts through concentrated private power.” It’s likely that Republicans will continue to criticize ESG proposals alongside their recent opposition to DEI policies at colleges and universities.

Across the aisle, Democrats seek to balance climate action with corporate partnerships on the issue. As such, Democrats will highlight President Biden’s modest action on ESG as evidence of a greater commitment to climate action. It’s unlikely that Democrats, at least on the federal level, will propose significant advances in ESG policy to appease corporate powers.

Using Plural to Monitor ESG Trends

Plural is the policy tracking and stakeholder collaboration tool of choice for policy teams seeking to monitor ESG trends across the United States, as well as in Nigeria and South Africa. Interested in getting started? Create a free account or book a demo today!

More Public Policy Resources

Key Benefits of AI for Lobbying & Advocacy

Want to be able to explain the benefits of artificial intelligence for lobbying and advocacy? Everyone is talking about AI. And we get it, it’s not simple to understand. But as an AI-powered organization, Plural is here to help you get the most out of advancements in AI to make your job as a policy […]

READ MORE →

State-Specific Resources

2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar

Staying on top of key deadlines is manageable in one state, but if you’re tracking bills across multiple states, or nationwide, it quickly becomes overwhelming. That’s why we created the 2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar. Stay ahead of important dates and download our calendar today. Get started with Plural. Plural helps top public policy teams get […]

READ MORE →

State-Specific Resources

End of Session Report: Florida 2024 Legislative Session

The 2024 Florida legislative session saw significant activity in the realm of insurance and financial services, reflecting key themes of consumer protection, market stability, and regulatory modernization.

READ MORE →

The post ESG Trends To Watch in 2024 appeared first on Plural Policy.

• Clean energy transition
• Carbon sequestration
• Federal agency involvement

Substantial investments and private support drives progress toward climate goals, with an emphasis on wind and solar projects. As the U.S. distances itself from fossil fuels, state-level initiatives are pivotal in shaping a more sustainable future. This article explores the landscape of environmental policy across the United States.

Federal Green Policies in 2024

Climate emerged as a key priority for the Biden administration in the aftermath of President Trump, who removed many protections put in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA.) The Biden administration is committed to preserving environmental protections and increasing climate resiliency. The administration has implemented green policies through:

• Tax benefits
• Green energy infrastructure
• Job creation around climate resiliency

With these measures, the Administration aims to bolster green infrastructure, provide job opportunities, and improve income attainment.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

The IRA incentivizes large organizations to lower their greenhouse gas (GHG) emission footprints. This includes companies, educational institutions, and others. Organizations are also incentivized to accelerate their transition to clean energy sources with tax credits awarded following the completion of transition measures. These tax credit incentives are already being offered as of January 2023, and will continue into the start of 2025. 

The IRA also offers clean energy tax credits to organizations that transition to clean energy in specific areas where environmental impacts are at higher rates. These include:

• Low-income communities
• Reservations and Native Land
• Low-income residential building projects

Historically, these communities have experienced intentional disinvestment in key infrastructure. They also tend to be in areas most impacted by climate change, so there is a growing need for climate resiliency within these communities.

The measures set forth by the IRA have not been fully implemented yet. There remain aspects of the law that Americans can look forward to. Starting in 2025, both non-entity taxpayers and organizations can take advantage of a clean energy production tax credit. Taxpayers and organizations alike will be able to benefit from committing to a yearly GHG emission rate of zero. This is part of the overall goal of the legislation to phase out U.S. greenhouse gas emissions going forward. 

Additional Federal Green Policies

The U.S. Senate has introduced S.3416, the Climate Change Resiliency Fund for America Act of 2023. This bill would authorize the Department of the Treasury to issue up to $1 billion in climate change obligations (e.g., bonds) in a fiscal year. It would also establish a Climate Change Advisory Commission to guide the federal government in enacting effective green policy. The Commission would provide recommendations, update guidelines, and review the most cost-effective investments. The bill is currently headed for committee. Senate members are hopeful for continued conversation surrounding the legislation.

State Green Policies in 2024

There’s an immense number of federal funding pathways available to states under the IRA. At Plural, we’ve seen an increase in energy-related policies in nearly every active state legislature.

Carbon Capture and Sequestration

One key issue is Carbon Capture and Sequestration legislation, which has been introduced in 17 states. Carbon sequestration is the process of removing access carbon from the atmosphere in order to mitigate the effects of climate change. In Maryland, HB155 would establish a Carbon Capture Opportunity Program. The Florida State House has jointly filed SB 1258 and HB1187, which would create a task force on Carbon Capture and Sequestration. The task force would study the benefits of sequestration and determine the next steps for adopting it within the state. This further highlights the interest in this type of legislation in states controlled by both Democrats and Republicans.

Climate Reporting

Another hot topic is how to best measure climate goals and reporting standards as a state. California recently passed SB 253, ‘Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act’. This Act is the first of its kind within the United States, becoming a model for other states to implement. The law mandates that companies have clear reporting standards on their carbon footprints. It also sets forth accountability standards for decreasing emissions. Finally, it creates a climate and financial disclosure rule that would make certain company data available to the state. This law was closely modeled after the European Union’s regulations around corporate accountability and climate change. 

Legislators in Washington and New York introduced bills similar to California’s new law. Both are Climate Corporate Data Accountability Acts – Washington SB 6092 and New York S 897. Increasing climate accountability and transparency in these states is an incredibly important step for climate activism. Many large international companies are currently headquartered in California, Washington, and New York. This legislation argues that a higher level of public knowledge surrounding the climate impacts of Fortune 500 companies can lead to greater accountability and climate outcomes overall. 

Climate Action Plans

Climate change is a massive legislative ordeal encompassing many policy topics. Due to their similarities, many climate policies often overlap in intent and implementation. Climate policy topics include, but are not limited to:

• Accessing and understanding the carbon footprints of large organizations
• Committing to clean energy transitions
• Creating green public infrastructure
• Investing in further green space
• Addressing environmental racism in disinvested neighborhoods

As the effects of climate change continue to occur, it’s nearly certain that this umbrella will continue to expand. Comprehensive, interconnected efforts to address climate change will become increasingly important. With this in mind, many states are adopting Climate Action Plans that encompass all aspects of climate policy. Thirty-three states have released Climate Action Plans. Others are continuing to create or update their objectives ahead of release. In 2024, we can expect to see Governors releasing plans, especially in the context of an election year. 

Green Policies in the 2024 Election

Climate change and green policy is a heavily divided political topic. The Biden Administration taking on climate change policies as a core tenant. Meanwhile, GOP presidential candidates largely dispute the necessity of legislation addressing climate change. Given the divide on the importance of climate policy, the 2024 election will be pivotal. Millions of Americans are already feeling the effects of climate change in their daily lives. Millions more are increasingly at risk of being a victim of an environmental disaster or suffering from environmental contamination. It’s clear that climate change is a salient political issue and one of many contributing factors for voters when making a decision. Many voters, particularly young voters, base their support of a candidate on their position on climate change, among other factors.

Using Plural to Monitor State Green Policies in 2024

Plural is the legislative tracking tool of choice for public policy teams looking to monitor green policy, as well as a host of other legislative issues. Interested in getting started? Create a free account or book a demo today.

More Resources for Public Policy Teams

2024 118th Congress Report

Guide to Preparing for Congressional Testimony

Upcoming Changes to Party Leadership in Congress

The post The Rise of Green Policies: How States are Leading the Charge in Environmental Initiatives appeared first on Plural Policy.

Legislative trends often emerge in the first few weeks of session. There is so much we can learn from the proposals considered across the country. In 2022, we identified trends in bills regulating discussions of race and gender in schools. That trend grew to be among the most hotly debated national issues this past year. This debate will only continue in 2024. Plural’s industry-leading open data and cutting-edge AI tools streamline and enhance legislative work.

The Biggest State Government Issues in 2024

It would be impossible to build a comprehensive list of the issues that each state will focus on in 2024. Instead, our research has allowed us to build a list of the topics which will be high on most state’s agendas this year. We’ve also identified specific proposals we see gathering momentum around the country. 

2024 Elections

Let’s get the big one out of the way first — elections will dominate political news coverage this year.  November’s elections will impact state legislative policy in a few distinct ways.

Voting Rights

Many bills related to voting rights will be considered across the country this year. In 2023, more than 1,100 bills expanding or restricting access to voting were introduced. Many of those same bills will come up again in 2024, and we expect hundreds more to be introduced. But prevalence alone does not make this our top legislative trend. The tenor and stakes of these debates will be extremely high. For better or worse, most voting rights proposals will be judged first by their potential impact on the 2024 elections. Advocates on both sides see these issues as central to ensuring a free and fair election. 

Culture Wars and Partisan Conflict

Federal elections, particularly the presidential election, will result in the nationalization of state legislative issues. Culture wars and partisan battles will prevail as legislators balance policymaking with politics. Abortion, parental rights in education, LGBTQ+ issues, and firearms regulation are areas we expect to see this dynamic play out. 

Session Logistics

Many state legislators themselves will be running for election in November. This being the case, we expect to see more sessions wrap up in a timely manner come spring. Legislators will be itching to get on the campaign trail. Fewer special sessions will take place this fall as election results signal priorities for 2025.

Affordable Housing

Housing affordability and homelessness have become a top issue at state legislatures. We recently wrote about the need for those in the housing space to monitor public policy. We expect to see proposals focused on:

• Affordable housing development
• State funding of shelters and emergency housing
• Continued action legislating the landlord-tenant relationship

Cannabis

At this point, state-level efforts to decriminalize or legalize marijuana are not novel. Despite this, recreational marijuana use remains illegal in just over half of U.S. states. Further, medicinal marijuana use is still prohibited in ten states. In Wisconsin, Hawaii, Florida, and New Hampshire, legalization will have a serious chance at passage this year. 

Even in states that have legalized marijuana, the subject remains prevalent. Delaware, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Ohio moved forward on legalization in 2023. However, there are significant intricacies in establishing a lucrative and regulated marijuana industry. Advocates can expect to return to their state houses frequently this year to monitor implementation plans. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

DEI policies were an emerging legislative trend over the past few years. This is true especially at universities. In 2023, this trend accelerated. University policies regarding freedom of speech, antisemitism, and racism have garnered attacks from the right.

Utah’s HB 111 would restrict the ability of private employers to require training that includes certain concepts related to race and sex. Utah legislators have already moved the bill out of its committee; it will be voted on by the full House next. 

Education

As always, state education committees will be busy this year. Education spending represents a significant portion of every state’s budge. Because of this, debates over spending can seem omnipresent.

About two dozen states must pass a budget by the end of this session. Those that don’t will likely still consider supplemental budget packages. New York Governor Kathy Hochul rolled out a budget that will increase state-provided school funding by more than $800 million. Legislators and interested parties will have their say whether the increase is too significant or not enough. They’ll also weigh in on the allocation of the funds.

Outside of education funding, other issues related to education will be hotly debated. We see continued trends in legislation relating to:

• Parental influence in the classroom
• Race in education
• Dual enrollment
• The expansion or restriction of charter schools

Environment & Climate Change Mitigation

In 2023, California enacted some of the most significant climate-related state action. The legislature passed laws requiring climate reporting by more large companies. As states adjust to meet their climate plans, we expect to see additional legislation. Twenty-four states have established greenhouse gas reduction targets. These states must evaluate their progress and adjust accordingly. Others may consider implementing targets of their own. 

As climate change continues, climate-related disasters increase in frequency and impact. Many states find themselves regularly considering how to respond to these tragedies. Hawaii’s devastating fires that took place in August 2023 will be a key focus of the state legislative session. Lawmakers will aid in the recovery of affected communities and victims. Further, they will plan for future fires and other climate-related disasters.

Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement Reform

Criminal justice and police reform efforts have received increased attention in recent rears. The murder of George Floyd and subsequent protests in 2020 catalyzed this focus. Despite progress by advocates, there is certainly more work to be done. This session, legislators in Maryland, Georgia, Minnesota, and California will prioritize justice reform.

Crime rates are decreasing throughout the United States. Despite this, growing public concern persists regarding increased crime rates. We expect some lawmakers to respond to this growing concern.

In Georgia, the development of a massive law enforcement training center has been the subject of debate.. Disagreements between lawmakers, law enforcement, have persisted for years over “Cop City.” Community activists have fought to prevent the construction of Cop City. As development continues, lawmakers have advanced legislation that could further criminalize protest actions. Cop City represents just one clash between those on both sides of the debate over police reform.

Transportation

We will monitor many major transportation issues in 2024. Among these is the continued development of electric vehicle policy. In 2023, some states followed the federal government’s lead in encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles. Tax rebates and other incentives aimed to encourage public entities to make the switch to electric.

While many efforts have been bipartisan, most have been led by Democrats. Some Republicans remain critical of electric vehicles. These lawmakers also oppose any encouraged transition away from gas-powered cars. In 2024, we expect to see increased opposition to electric vehicles in Republican states. This might involve increased fees on electric vehicles and reduced taxes on gasoline. 

Using Plural to Track State Government Issues

Hundreds of bills are introduced as sessions kick off. It can be overwhelming to analyze legislative trends in one state, let alone throughout the country. However, keeping track of legislative trends is vital to understanding public policy. Dominant issues and trends started in just one or two states before going “viral” nationwide.

Plural makes the process of identifying and tracking legislative trends accessible and efficient. We’re committed to ensuring that every American can access high-quality legislative data. Using artificial intelligence, we leverage our data to identify trends and patterns.

Interested in learning more? Book a demo today!

More Resources for Monitoring State Government Issues

Key Benefits of AI for Lobbying & Advocacy

Want to be able to explain the benefits of artificial intelligence for lobbying and advocacy? Everyone is talking about AI. And we get it, it’s not simple to understand. But as an AI-powered organization, Plural is here to help you get the most out of advancements in AI to make your job as a policy […]

READ MORE →

State-Specific Resources

2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar

Staying on top of key deadlines is manageable in one state, but if you’re tracking bills across multiple states, or nationwide, it quickly becomes overwhelming. That’s why we created the 2025 Legislative Committee Deadlines Calendar. Stay ahead of important dates and download our calendar today. Get started with Plural. Plural helps top public policy teams get […]

READ MORE →

State-Specific Resources

End of Session Report: Florida 2024 Legislative Session

The 2024 Florida legislative session saw significant activity in the realm of insurance and financial services, reflecting key themes of consumer protection, market stability, and regulatory modernization.

READ MORE →

The post Top Issues for State Legislatures in 2024 appeared first on Plural Policy.